phenomena of matter; but when we try to define
and describe himself, both language and thought
desert us, and we are as helpless as fools and sav-
ages. That essence refuses to be recorded in prop-
ositions, but when man has worshipped him in-
tellectually, the noblest ministry of nature is to
stand as the apparition of God. It is the organ
through which the universal spirit speaks to the
individual, and strives to lead back the individual
to it.

When we consider Spirit, we see that the views
already presented do not include the whole circum-
ference of man. We must add some related
thoughts.

Three problems are put by nature to the mind;
What is matter? Whence is it? and Whereto?
The first of these questions only, the ideal theory
answers. Idealism saith: matter is a phenomenon,
not a substance. Idealism acquaints us with the
total disparity between the evidence of our own
being and the evidence of the world's being. The
one is perfect; the other, incapable of any assur-
ance; the mind is a part of the nature of things;
the world is a divine dream, from which we may
presently awake to the glories and certainties of
day. Idealism is a hypothesis to account for na-
ture by other principles than those of carpentry
and chemistry. Yet, if it only deny the existence

-340-